The Town of Barnstable Health Division will hold two flu clinics for Town of Barnstable residents only on September 27th and October 11th. Both clinics will be held at the St. George Green Orthodox Church, Route 28 in Centerville and will be drive thru only. The cost is $3 per person. For more information you can contact the Health Division at 508-862-4644.

Recreational Scallop season in Barnstable will open Sunday October 1, 2023. I am pleased to announce that there are some scallops out there this year, but it looks like a lot of them were a late seed set from last year, so as a reminder the regulation pertaining to keeping legal scallops is as follows:

No person shall land or possess scallops without a well-defined growth line and that growth line shall measure at least 10 millimeters from the hinge of the shell.  Exception: Bay Scallops that have a well-defined raised annual growth line located less than 10 millimeters (mm) from the hinge of the shell, shall be lawful to harvest and possess if the shell height is at least 63.5 millimeters or 2.5 inches.

These protections are put in place to allow the scallops an opportunity to spawn and create more scallops as they typically only live two years. 

Recreational Scalloping in Barnstable is allowed 7 days a week, with a weekly limit of 1 bushel (4 pecks). All other applicable scallop regulations can be found here: https://ecode360.com/6564664

The fine for more than 5% scallop seed in your total catch is $100 so be sure you are properly measuring your catch. 

Have a happy and sustainable scallop season!

Amy Croteau, Senior Natural Resource Officer/Shellfish Constable

The Town of Barnstable is updating its Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP). The LCP will set out a vision for growth and development, land use, infrastructure, and resource protection for this distinctive community and its seven villages, as well as a targeted action plan to guide the Town’s future work and resource allocation.  

The LCP’s development is steered by a Local Comprehensive Planning Committee (LCPC). The purpose of the Committee is to better facilitate and communicate the planning process, and engage the greater community in the planning effort.  The Committee recently completed the first phase of the LCP update, which included extensive community outreach, a vision statement, and an existing conditions report.

The current LCPC is comprised of representatives of all seven villages and members of several Town Boards and Committees.  The Town Manager is seeking to appoint additional members to the Local Comprehensive Planning Committee as it begins phase two of the planning process.  The Town is looking to diversify representation on the Committee to ensure the Committee’s makeup is reflective of the community’s population and is therefore seeking applications, particularly from those who rent their home, people of color, people with disabilities, and people whose first language is not English.

Selected members will participate in a process that will take place over the next year. The process will consist of discussions and recommendations to the Town Council on future land use and associated natural resource, built environment, and community issues.  The Committee meets once a month.  All members are active participants, and are often requested to attend additional community meetings and to review and complete “homework” assignments throughout the process. The Committee is supported by Town staff and an outside planning consultant, as directed by the Town Manager.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the application online at the Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan website (www.BarnstableLCP.com); or email it to BarnstableLCP@town.barnstable.ma.us; or print and return to the Town Manager’s Office at 367 Main Street, Hyannis by 4:00 PM on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Applications can also be found at each of the seven village libraries, the Hyannis Youth and Community Center, and the Barnstable Adult Community Center.

The Committee is appointed by the Town Manager.  Due to the importance and far-reaching impacts of the work to be undertaken by the Committee, the Town Manager will request that all appointments to the Committee be ratified by the Town Council.

Please direct questions to BarnstableLCP@town.barnstable.ma.us.

Effective sunrise Sunday September 17, 2023 the precautionary closure put in place by Division of Marine Fisheries will be lifted. 

However, please note that September 15th commenced a large closure of conditionally approved areas in Barnstable Harbor so be sure to check the maps online or at the landing before hitting the flats to make sure you are in an open area prior to shellfishing!! 

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Effective at sunset today, Friday September 15, 2023 the entire state of Massachusetts is CLOSED TO ALL SHELLFISHING until further notice per the Division of Marine Fisheries. This precautionary closure was put in place in the best interest of public health as the coastal impacts and rainfall coming from Hurricane Lee are still unknown and could be widespread. Following the weather event, assessments to our coastal communities will be made as soon as is possible, and I will send notification via email when The Town of Barnstable can re-open to shellfishing. 

If you have any questions regarding this closure, please let me know. 

Stay Safe!

Amy Croteau

Senior Natural Resource Officer / Shellfish Constable
Town of Barnstable

When in doubt, call 9-1-1
Barnstable Police Non Emergency Line, 508-775-0812
Town of Barnstable Storm Line, 508-862-4636
Town of Barnstable Citizen Resource Line, 508-862-4925
Eversource to report a power outage, 800-592-2000
National Grid gas emergencies, 800-233-5325, report an outage, 800-465-1212
Town of Barnstable Highway Department to report downed trees, 508-790-6330